High Tech Locks Are Making Keys Obsolete
Like all technologies, keyless entry systems entered the market as rather expensive innovations that were primarily used for commercial applications. Businesses that needed to allow access to many different people supplied the demand, and the engineers did the rest.
The ideal example of an industry that had an obvious need for keyless entry technology is the hotel trade. Thousands of different people were in possession of a hotel’s keys every year, and the security risk that this situation posed was enormous. All a crook had to do was rent a room, make a copy of the key, check out, and wait for the next person to be assigned that room.
Additionally, any time a guest lost a key, it was out there in circulation, further breaching hotel security. Guest safety was certainly a driving force behind keyless entry technology for hotels, but replacement costs were also a concern. Imagine how many duplicate keys a large hotel had to have made in a typical year before the advent of keyless lock technologies made old fashioned hotel keys obsolete.
Hotels are not the only types of businesses that clamored for keyless entry systems.
Most companies had the need to allow access to many different people, but employees come and go, and sometimes they would take their keys with them (either intentionally or inadvertently). Also, some employees needed access to areas that others did not, so keyless access systems allowed selective access. Limited facility access was another factor. Perhaps the vending machine attendant needed to gain access to the building between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. only. Keys work 24/7, but with a keyless access system, that vendor could be allowed access during a window of time. And as an added layer of security, all of the comings and goings of everyone who holds an access card could be recorded in the company’s security database.
High tech locks and keyless entry systems have come a long way since they were first introduced as a largely commercial locksmith solution. These days, push-button handlesets, wireless remote deadbolts, hardwired keypads, proximity card readers and even biometric fingerprint technologies are within the reach of the average homeowner.
Affordable keyless entry systems provide a multitude of security advantages, but they may be worth the cost for their convenience alone. 24/7 Locksmith Services specializes in the service and installation of low cost residential keyless entry systems, and we will give you a brief explanation of some of the high tech residential security locks that our customers are using.
Remote wireless deadbolts are an entry level way for homeowners to go keyless in a very simple and affordable manner. Wireless access systems like the Kwikset Maximum Security Keyless Entry System can be installed by homeowners who are handy with a drill and some simple hand tools.
You trigger the Kwikset Maximum Security Keyless Entry System by utilizing a push button remote control fobs that are commonly used to arm automobile alarm systems, and the fob has a range of about 30 feet. These units employ a battery powered deadbolt that is compatible with your existing latchset, and the best news is that you can purchase one of these systems for under $150.
Push-button handlesets are another type keyless entry system that is growing in popularity among homeowners as the prices of these residential keyless entry technologies continues to become more affordable. With these residential security locks a discreet keypad is installed alongside the home’s entrance and it is wired to an electric mortise lock on the jamb or a magnetic lock on the door’s frame. These keyless systems are powered by a little DC transformer that plugs into a typical wall socket. Some of these systems can be integrated with home security alarm systems and networked with computer software that records access attempts. And believe it or not, there are low end push-button handlesets available to the security conscious consumer for as little as $200 (though it may be wise to spend a little bit more to take full advantage of this technology). Push-button handlesets require professional installation in most instances, and 24/7 Locksmith Services is glad to provide this service to our home security lock customers.
Hardwired keypads are very popular keyless entry systems because they provide airtight residential security in one simple and affordable package. They are stand-alone units; the keypad that you use to gain entry and the handleset are part of the same mechanism. Hardwired keypad systems run on batteries and since they are self-contained, no additional wiring is necessary. Users punch a code into the keypad to gain access, and some of the more expensive models allow homeowners to program selected codes to allow access only during particular hours or days of the week. These keyless entry systems are also affordable to most homeowner, starting at just over a hundred dollars and graduating up the line depending on the features that you need. Hardwired keypads are one of our specialties at 24/7 Locksmith Services, and we can get your new keyless entry system up and running for you as soon as you make the decision to go with a high tech home security lock set-up and give us a call.
Proximity card readers are another popular choice for homeowner who have decided to go with high tech security locks. Many of us use these systems to gain access to our office buildings or apartment or condominium units. You simply wave a card that has a microchip embedded in it in front of an unobtrusive reader device that controls the magnetic or electronic strike lock that secures the door. These readers are aesthetically pleasing because they can be concealed so that you can’t even see them (as long as they are not placed behind anything metal). They do need to be installed professionally, and they are going to set you back anywhere from around $250 to over $1000. 24/7 Locksmith Services installs and services proximity card readers, and our customers really love them.
The last type of residential keyless entry system that we are going to discuss is probably not something that most homeowners are going to budget for, but if you want to be absolutely certain that your home is completely secure, biometric readers may be for you.
With biometric technologies, access is sitting right in the palm of your hand: literally. Biometric readers are programmed to recognize unique hand shapes or fingerprints, so there is no key, no fob, and no code to remember. You show the reader your hand or selected finger and it’s “Open Sesame.” This is definitely the high tech keyless entry system that James Bond would have us install in his London penthouse, but then again, he is working with a secret agent’s budget. These systems will run you anywhere from $1300 to around $3000, a price range that is actually surprisingly affordable considering the extreme sophistication of the technology.
In the final analysis, these keyless entry systems are indeed rendering keys obsolete. When you look at how easy it is to compromise low end locks with bump keys, and you consider the cost of bump proof locks, it may be a good idea to simply have a professional install the high tech keyless security lock system that best suits your budget.
These keyless systems offer innumerable advantages over the old fashioned keyed locks, not the least of which is that you never have to worry about forgetting or losing your keys. Some of them can be used with your existing latchset, and depending on the system and its specific features, you can set them to allow selective limited access for say a babysitter or a repairman.
Many keyless entry systems can be integrated with your home security system and/or your personal computer so you know exactly when access has been requested and granted or denied. Unlike the standard lock that comes with a couple of duplicate keys, high tech keyless security locks offer more possible access codes than you are realistically ever going to need, and they are all unique from one another and can be invalidated or changed whenever you see fit.
Plus, the wide variety of choices provides the homeowner with the ability to select the keyless entry package that best suits the aesthetics of the entryway. Installing a keyless entry system does not have to be a designer’s nightmare, making your home look like a hotel or a secure business building. If you so choose, you can install a proximity card reader that is literally invisible to your visitors (and for that matter, potential intruders as well).
Keyless entry systems are not the “wave of the future.” They are here, now. Our master locksmiths know these keyless entry and access systems inside and out, and we are friendly, courteous, fast, and affordable. When you decide to take the plunge and go keyless, call the residential keyless entry system experts at 24/7 Locksmith Services.
